Elevating container for garbage cans



April 16, 1963 v. R. VAN DYK 3,085,655

ELEVATING CONTAINER FOR GARBAGE CANS Filed July 1'7, 1961 AYAVA'A United States Patent Office 3,085,655 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 3,085,655 ELEVATING CONTAINER FOR GARBAGE CANS Victor R. Van Dyk, Inland Foundry Co., 320 W. Rainier Way, Spokane, Wash. Filed July 17, 1961, Ser. No. 124,558 8 Claims. (Cl. 137-5) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in underground containers particularly for the reception of conventional garbage cans and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a container of this character comprising novel gravity operated means for automatically elevating the cans to the level of the ground or other surrounding surface, preparatory to emptying said cans.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an automatic underground container of the aforementioned character which embodies unique means for releasably securing the cans in lowered position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a garbage can container or receptacle of the character described which will be positively animal and weatherproof and which, further, will prevent the escape of odors.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an underground garbage can container of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, sanitary and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view, showing a garbage can container embodying the present invention installed, the ground being broken away to reveal the device;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a View in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view in end elevation of an upper portion of the device, showing the means for securing the cans in lowered position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially oval receptacle of suitable metal which is designated generally by reference numeral 7. The receptacle 7, which may also be of any desired dimensions, is to be sunk in the ground with its top portion substantially ilush with -or adjacent to the surface thereof. The receptacle 7 includes an open-bottom shell or casing 8 having secured in its lower portion an endless reinforcing frame 9 of angle iron. Mounted transversely in the frame 9 is an inverted channel bar 10. Mounted externally on the upper portion of the shell or casing 8 is a reinforcing frame 11, also of angle iron. Hingedly secured, as at 12, on the end portions of the receptacle 7 is a pair of vertically swingable covers 13. When in closed position on the receptacle 7, the inner or free ends of the covers 13 are spaced from each other. Lifting handles 14 are provided on the free end portions of the covers 13.

Mounted vertically on the opposed side Walls 15 of the shell or casing 8 is a pair of guides 16 of substantially semi-circular horizontal section. A foraminous follower 17 is operable vertically in the shell or casing 8 between the guides 16'. In the embodiment shown, the follower 17 includes an endless frame 18 of angle iron having mounted therein a wire panel 19. The follower 17 iS elongated and the sides of the frame 18 thereof comprise substantially semi-circular recessed portions 20' which accommodate the guides 16. When in lowered position, the follower 17 rests on the member 10 of the frame 9i.

A pair of grooved pulleys 21 are rotatably mounted between ears or bearings 22 in the upper portions of the guides 16. The pulleys 21 are operable in slots or openings 23 which are provided therefor in the guides 16. Ropes or cables 24 are trained over the pulleys 21 and have one end connected to the frame 18 of the follower 17, as at 25. The other ends of the cables 24 are secured as indicated at 26 to counterweights 27. Thus, the counterweights 27 are operatively connected to the follower 17 for elevating same with a pair of conventional garbage cans mounted thereon, as indicated at 28. The guides 16 define ways 29 in the shell or casing 8 in which the counterweights 27 are operable.

The follower 17 is releasably secured in lowered position against the action of the counterweights 27 through the medium of a hold-down 30. The hold-down 30l includes a pair of posts or the like 32 of arcuate crosssection which have their lower end portions aixed to the arcuate portions 20 of the frame 18 for mounting said posts on the follower 17. The posts 32 nest with and are slidable vertically on the guides 16 and said posts are provided with longitudinal slots 33 which accommodate the pulleys 21. Mounted horizontally on the upper ends of the posts 32 is a transverse bar 34. Pivotally mounted beneath one portion of the bar 34 is a latch 35 comprising an operating handle 36 which is operable in a slot or opening 37 provided therefor in one end portion of said bar. The latch 35 is operatively engageable beneath a plate or bar 38 which is provided therefor on the upper end of the adjacent guide 16 and which has formed therein an opening or aperture which receives said latch.

It is thought that the operation or use of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briey, the receptacle 7 may be installed in any convenient location, such as adjacent a residential driveway, a curb, etc. The latch 35 secures the follower 17 in lowered position. Through the medium of the access doors or covers 13, the empty cans 28 are inserted in the receptacle 7 on the follower 17. The covers 13 rest in closed position by gravity. If desired, suitable locks or latches may be provided for the covers 13. When the cans 28 are to be removed for emptying or for other purposes, it is only necessary to release the latch 35. When this occurs the counterweights 27 immediately elevate the follower 17 with the cans 28 thereon. After being emptied the cans 28 may be replaced on the follower 17 and pushed downwardly to lowered position and again secured by the latch 35. The posts 32, of arcuate crosssection, riding on the correspondingly shaped guides 16, stabilize the -follower 17.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. An underground garbage can container comprising a receptacle, a pair of vertical guides in said receptacle on opposed walls thereof, a follower operable vertically in the receptacle between the guides and adapted to receive a plurality of cans thereon, counterweights in the receptacle operable in the guides and operatively connected to the follower for elevating same, and means for releasably securing the follower in lowered position, said means comprising a hold-down including a pair of posts mounted on the follower and extending upwardly therefrom and slidable vertically on the guides, a horizontal bar on the upper ends of said posts, and a latch on said bar operatively engageable with the receptacle for securing the bar thereto, said guides and posts being of arcuate cross-section and nested for stabilizing the follower.

2. An underground garbage container in accordance with claim l, wherein said receptacle includes a plurality of hinged, vertically swingable access covers located in the paths of the cans for engagement and actuation to open position thereby upon upward movement thereof.

3. An underground garbage can container comprising an elongated receptacle, a pair of spaced covers hingedly mounted on the end portions of said receptacle, a pair of spaced, opposed, upstanding guides of arcuate crosssection mounted in an intermediate portion of the receptacle on the sides thereof, an elongated follower operable vertically in the receptacle and including an intermediate portion of reduced widths accommodating the guides, pulleys journaled on the upper portions of the guides, cables trained over the pulleys and having one end connected to said intermediate portion of the follower, segmental counterweights on the other ends of the cables operable in the guides for elevating the follower by gravity, and an upstanding, generally inverted U-shaped member mounted on the follower and operable between the covers for manually lowering the follower against the action of the counterweights.

4. An underground garbage can container comprising an elongated receptacle, a pair of spaced covers hingedly mounted on the end portions of said receptacle, a pair of spaced, opposed, upstanding guides of arcuate cross-section mounted in an intermediate portion of the receptacle on the sides thereof, an elongated follower operable vertically in the receptacle and including an intermediate portion of reduced width accommodating the guides, pulleys journaled on the upper portions of the guides, cables trained over the pulleys and having one end connected to said intermediate portion of the follower, seg mental counterweights on the other ends of the cables operable in the guides for elevating the follower by gravity, and an upstanding, generally inverted U-shaped member mounted on the follower and operable between the covers for manually lowering the follower against the action of the counterweights, said member including posts on said intermediate portion of the follower, said posts being sldable on the guides and conforming to the crosssectional shape thereof, and a horizontal bar on the upper ends of said posts.

5. An underground garbage can container in accord ance with claim 4, said posts having longitudinal slots therein receiving the pulleys.

6. An underground garbage can container in accordance with claim 5, said bar, when the follower is in lowered position, lying between the covers in the horizontal plane thereof.

7. An underground garbage can container in accordance with claim 6, the end portions of the bar projecting beyond the posts over the guides, and coacting means on one of said bar end portions and one of the guides for releasably securing the follower in lowered position.

8. An underground garbage can container in accordance with claim 7, said means including an apertured plate on the upper end of said one guide underlying the bar, and a latch on the bar operatively engageable with the plate through an aperture therein.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 153,307 Blaisdell July 21, 1874 300,685 Borst June 17, 18811 563,190 Larimer et al. June 30, 1896 849,485 Metzger Apr. 9, 1907 936,702 Carlucci Oct. 12, 1909 966,769 Rittenhouse Aug. 9, 1910 982,056 Hammell Jan. 17, 1911 1,127,462 Lightheart Feb. 9, 1915 1,150,752 Evans Aug. 17, 1915 2,208,968 Ernst `luly 23, 1940 

1. AN UNDERGROUND GARBAGE CAN CONTAINER COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE, A PAIR OF VERTICAL GUIDES IN SAID RECEPTACLE ON OPPOSED WALLS THEREOF, A FOLLOWER OPERABLE VERTICALLY IN THE RECEPTACLE BETWEEN THE GUIDES AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PLURALITY OF CANS THEREON, COUNTERWEIGHTS IN THE RECEPTACLE OPERABLE IN THE GUIDES AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE FOLLOWER FOR ELEVATING SAME, AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING THE FOLLOWER IN LOWERED POSITION, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A HOLD-DOWN INCLUDING A PAIR OF POSTS MOUNTED ON THE FOLLOWER AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM AND SLIDABLE VERTICALLY ON THE GUIDES, A HORIZONTAL BAR ON THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID POSTS, AND A LATCH ON SAID BAR OPERATIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE RECEPTACLE FOR SECURING THE BAR THERETO, SAID GUIDES AND POSTS BEING OF ARCUATE CROSS-SECTION AND NESTED FOR STABILIZING THE FOLLOWER. 